:: Sixtwentyseven ::

I got to admit, after watching IRIS, my conception of Korean dramas has changed a lot. Yes, I got to acknowledge that I'm a bit slow in watching this drama since it was air-ed slightly more than a year back, but the reason of me catching this drama is so that I could start watching Athena: Goddess of War. Tsk.

So let me start by giving the final score first. On a scale of 10, I think I could give this show a score of 11. The scriptwriters of IRIS is excellent and probably it'll a bit hard to beat this drama.

Lee Byun Hun stars as Kim Hyun Joon, who together with Jin Sa Woo (Jung Jun Ho), his best friend in the special forces, are brought into a top secret organization known as NSS. Choi Seung Hee (Kim Tae Hee) is their team leader, whom they both fall in love with due to different circumstances. However, their lives changed forever when Hyun Joon is given an individual task to assassinate a top North Korean political figure in Hungary. He got injured in the process and was instead being ordered to be silenced by an organization called IRIS. Hyun Joon is determined to find out what IRIS is and why he is being targeted.

This drama is really taxing on the actors in this show. Of course, being a thriller drama, one would expect a lot of gun battles and fighting scenes. However, scenes like special forces training by dragging a tyre behind, as well as Kim Tae Hee being flung around in various scenes. This is indeed trying on the actors and I got to applaud them for their efforts.

I got to specially mention Kim Tae Hee in this drama as I really thought she did very well in the drama. Her chemistry with Lee Byun Hun is flawless and it showed in the couple scenes that the two have together. Lee Byun Hun, as an international actor now that he has acted in foreign movies, gives a solid performance as well.

If there's a sore point in the drama, it may be that the scriptwriters may have original planned to keep this drama at 16 episodes since the majority of the story is based on one incident (trying to not provide spoliers). Beyond 16th, the rest of the story is simply trying to tidy things up regarding the organisation IRIS, but they didn't do much in that aspect as well. Probably, they were already thinking of a sequel to the drama, which is in the works for release in fall 2011. However, that brings it to the second point: The way they end the drama, how is Lee Byun Hun gonna contribute to IRIS 2 at all? (go watch the drama and you'll get what I mean).

But overall, this scripting errors should not deny the fact the drama is well written, well paced and the action is tremendous. A must-watch if you have the opportunity to do so. And oh yeah, I broke my 16 episode limit for Korean dramas.

Edit:

I got to add more stuff here. I forget to mention the OST is solid as well and Baek Ji Young gives me the chills when she belts out these ballads. She's truly the queen of OST soundtracks.

Baek Ji Young - Do Not Forget (IRIS OST)

As I listened to more and more Korean songs, I can't help but feel that Chinese songs are getting more and more repetitive, in terms of rhythm or lyrics. While Chinese songs feature more of ballads and songs about love, Korean songs are more about beats and the lyrics are diverse in genres. A good example is 4minute's HuH, and this song "Going Crazy" by Song Ji Eun.

Ji Eun is from Girl Group "Secret" under TS Entertainment. With the recent success of their newest single "Shy Boy", Ji Eun changed her image for her own album "Going Crazy". "Going Crazy" talks about a girl who is being stalked by a stalker who follows her every move and basically freaks her out. The song is backed by TS trainee Bang Yong Kook, whose husky voice belied his young age. Even though Bang is a trainee, he has extensive experience in the underground scene.

Check out this alternative MV especially for KBS Music Bank.

Lyrics:

사랑이아냐이건사랑이아냐너의집착일뿐이야
sarangi anya igeon sarangi anya neoui jipchagil ppuniya
어디있든지내가무얼하든지무서워나를바라보는넌
eodi itdeunji naega mueol hadeunji museowo nareul baraboneun neon

너의그림자를따라밟다난전화를걸어
neoui geurimjareul ttara barpda nan jeonhwareul georeo
네떨리는숨소리에짜릿해져버려
ne tteollineun sumsorie jjaritaejyeobeoryeo
빨라지는네발걸음따라뛰는내심장
ppallajineun ne balgeoreum ttara ttwineun nae simjang
미칠것만같아어두워지는긴밤
michil geotman gata eoduwojineun gin bam
너의집앞불꺼진가로등밑에서
neoui jip ap bul kkeojin garodeung miteseo
너를본다네방창문틈에서
neoreul bonda ne bang chang mun teumeseo
밤이끝날때까지날찾아봐
bami kkeutnal ttaekkaji nal chajabwa
어서나와숨막히는숨바꼭질을계속해
eoseo nawa sum makhineun sumbakkokjireul gyesokhae
넌절대내게서떨어질수없어
neon jeoldae naegeseo tteoreojil su eobseo

미친거니왜그러니이제그만나좀내버려둬
michingeoni wae geureoni ije geuman na jom naebeoryeodwo
네가보여숨이막혀내눈앞에서좀사라져줘
nega boyeo sumi makhyeo nae nun apeseo jom sarajyeojwo

넌날절대벗어날수없어넌날사랑할수밖에없어
neon nal jeoldae beoseonal su eobseo neon nal sarang hal subakke eobseo
도망쳐봐 (I don’t wanna see you)
domangchyeobwa (I don‘t wanna see you)
네가어디에있든지난볼수있으니널알지깊숙이
nega eodie itdeunji nan bol su isseuni neol alji gipsugi
넌날절대벗어날수없어넌날사랑할수밖에없어
neon nal jeoldae beoseonal su eobseo neon nal sarang hal subakke eobseo
이제날봐 (I Don’t Wanna Cry No More more)
ije nal bwa (I Don‘t Wanna Cry No More more)
I Don‘t Wanna Cry No More more

사라져버려그만좀꺼져버려정말숨도못쉬겠어
sarajyeo beoryeo geuman jom kkeojyeo beoryeo jeongmal sumdo mot swigesseo
어딜가든지내가어디있든지무서워나를따라오는너
eodil gadeunji naega eodi itdeunji museowo nareul ttaraoneun neo

수백번이고수만번이고
subaek beonigo suman beonigo
전화를걸었는데왜왜넌대답이없어
jeonhwareul georeonneunde wae wae neon daedabi eobseo
잊었니? 우리만난지벌써천일이됐어
ijeonni? uri mannan ji beolsseo cheoniri dwaesseo
네가좋아하는선물을준비했어
nega johahaneun seonmureul junbihaesseo
네가자주가는거리에앉아
nega jaju ganeun georie anja
널기다리고있어내사랑을알아?
neol gidarigo isseo nae sarangeul ara?
집착이라말하지마사랑을몰라넌
jipchagira malhaji ma sarangeul molla neon
미쳤다고말하지마내맘을몰라
michyeotdago malhaji ma nae mameul molla
넌절대내게서떨어질수없어
neon jeoldae naegeseo tteoreojil su eobseo

미친거니왜그러니이제그만나좀내버려둬
michingeoni wae geureoni ije geuman na jom naebeoryeodwo
네가보여숨이막혀내눈앞에서좀사라져줘
nega boyeo sumi makhyeo nae nun apeseo jom sarajyeojwo

너도날원하잖아나를사랑하잖아나를도망치지마
neodo nal wonhajanha nareul saranghajanha nareul domangchiji ma

헛소리좀집어치워정신차려그만좀해이제나를놓아줘
heossori jom jibeo chiwo jeongsin charyeo geuman jom hae ije nareul nohajwo
이건아냐사랑이아니야 (아니야)
igeon anya sarangi aniya (aniya)
내게상처뿐이야이러지마 (넌이러지마)
naege sangcheoppuniya ireojima (neon ireojima)
널사랑했지만이제는아니야너의기억에서날잊어줘
neol sarang haetjiman ijeneun aniya neoui gieogeseo nal ijeojwo
I Don‘t Wanna Cry No More

credits: geniskencur@friendster

Judging from the past few posts, I bet anyone has realised that I have not been watching nor reviewing any Japanese dramas. I'm glad to say I've managed to finish just one of the many j-dramas lying around in my storage and hence providing my review on it!

Gaikoukan Kuroda Kousaku or Diplomat Kuroda Kousaku is the sequel of the movie Amalfi, which was produced in conjunction with the 50th anniversary of Fuji TV. Kuroda Kousaku is a Japanese diplomat working overseas in the Central Americas Bureau. The story starts in Mexico where an incident 11 years ago caused the death of his friend's wife, and Kuroda feels remorse for not protecting her. However, when the friend Shimomura came to meet him in San Francisco and subsequently committed suicide, it left Kuroda with a lot of question marks. Kuroda's suspicions increased when he spotted someone who looked uncanny like Shimomura at the airport after the incident. Kuroda decides to fly back to Japan to uncover the mysteries.

If I were to say Amalfi is well written, then I would comment that the scriptwriter for Gaikousan Kuroda Kousaku is excellent. From the first episode, the story is instantly grabs your attention and by the time i watched the second episode, I was left wanting to know more. Japan has excellent authors for thrillers, and this is no different. The story is well panned out over 10 episodes, and each episode will let you to have something to think about before watching the next episode. Oda Yuji as usual gave a solid performance as Kuroda while Shibasaki Kou, who acts as his partner detective Ogaki Rikako, puts in a confident performance. An added bonus to the show is the appearance of Lee Byung Hun, who is Kuroda's childhood friend and US informant. His lines were delivered purely in English and I must say his English is pretty good.

An excellent detective thriller as expected and if you have the time, you must catch it! A pity though, that the average rating for this drama is only 10.4%.

I don't usually watch Korean movies for the same reasons as to why I do not watch Korean dramas that last more than 20 episodes. However, recently on a trip to my local cinema, a trailer caught my eye. I thought the actor looked familiar and he no other than Won Bin. And to think Won Bin starred in an action film, got me interested to watch this movie, Ahjussi or internationally known as The Man From Nowhere.

An ex-special agent CHA Tae-shik's only connection to the rest of the world is a little girl, So-mi, who lives nearby. Her mother, Hyo-jeong smuggles drugs from a drug trafficking organization and entrusts Tae-shik with the product, without letting him know. The traffickers find out about her smuggling and kidnap both Hyo-jeong and So-mi. The gang promises to release them if Tae-shik makes a delivery for them, however it actually is a larger plot to eliminate a rival drug ring leader. When Hyo-jeon's disembowelled body is discovered, Tae-shik realizes that So-mi's life may also be in danger. Tae-shik becomes enraged at the prospect that So-mi may already be dead and prepares for a battle, putting his own life at risk.
credits: Yahoo! movies Singapore

I'd say that the movie's plot is pretty straightforward being an action film. You shouldn't expect any surprises in the show, but I thought the show started a tad slow. The only time when the movie really picked up is already past the 20 minute mark, enough time for me to make a few yawns. However, beyond that, the action is superb and the fighting scenes are very choreographed and precised. In Singapore, the local censor board has given an NC-16 rating, meaning people below the age of 16 are not allowed to view the movie. I could understand the reason as there are a few disturbing scenes as well as the realistic portrayal of blood spurting out of wounds. And I have yet to mention the bone breaking scenes during the fist fights.

Having said that, this is definitely a man's movie and the ladies would watch swooning about Won Bin's looks and his incredible physic. However, I don't the ladies would love the violent scenes unless they're a fan of it as well. A special mention has to be given to the little girl who acted as So-mi. Kim Se Ron is really natural in the role and she gave a very matured performance for a child. It is not surprising that she won the Best Newcomer Award at the 2010 Korean Film Awards.

The movie has already opened in cinemas in Singapore.

Seeing the disaster pics coming from the 8.9 Magnitude earthquake that struck Japan is saddening enough.

However, seeing these comments coming from some people really makes one's heart boil with anger. Why can't people just spare a thought for those who are experiencing hardship due to mother nature?

Please. Just spare a thought for others. I ask no more.

A Chinese victim who experienced the tsunami clearly stated what humanity should be all about.

http://dreamsinapie.tumblr.com/post/3816948641/translated-message-from-a-chinese-sendai-tsunami

At last I've decided to finish a movie that I've put it aside for so long! Actually, I was actually looking forward to this movie due to the excellent soundtrack by Ikimonogakari, who provide both the starting and ending theme for the movie.

Toki O Kakeru Shojo is actually not a new story and there are various versions to this story. Just before this version, there is also an animated version which was launched in 2006. In the live version, Naka Riisa is the female lead Yoshimaya Akari who went back into time to help fulfill a wish that her mother had asked her to fulfill on her behalf. Back in time, she met Mizorogi Ryouta (Nakao Akiyoshi), an up and coming film director, who helped her along the way.

Toki is the typical time traveling movie where the character will go back in time, attempts to change history along the way and falling in love. However, one thing Toki definitely doesn't try to explain is the settings for the 1970s, as well as the difference in the people etc. In fact, it tries to keep these thing minimal so that the audience can focus on the main story itself. I do have to say the storyline seems a bit weak throughout and since it's fiction, there are some parts of the story that you may find it unbelievable or amusing at best. Hence, if you're heavy on details, do give Toki a miss, because that's what you aren't getting.

Instead, what you're getting is good acting from the main lead. Although Naka Riisa is young, she is very mature in her acting and her acting credibility stems from the variety of roles she has already attempted. Nakao Akiyoshi is also experienced since he started off as a child actor and has been acting since then. However, because of the fact that I've seen his dramas and movies through the years, this movie does not help him to shake off the schoolboy image even though his role is an up and coming film director.

Nonetheless, Toki o Kakeru Shojo is an enjoyable film to watch. And oh, I must share the soundtrack as well as they are excellent songs by Ikimonogakari.

I've just realized I've not been updating my blog for a very very long time. With the lunar new year passing by and all the feasting on new year goodies, adding the fact that my interest in J-Dramas suddenly dipped to new lows, the amount I'm reviewing or the amount of dramas I'm watching has greatly reduced. Instead, I'm watching more Korean stuff and watching more Korean variety programs which is really very interesting.

One of the dramas I've just completed watching is My Princess starring Kim Tae Hee as Lee Seol and Song Seung Hun as Park Hae Young, heir apparent of Dae Han Group and a diplomat for the government. Lee Seol is an orphan who was separated from her father when young due to her father's accident. What she didn't know was that her father is actually a crown prince who lived a life of running away from enemies. When Lee Seol was identified as the princess, Hae Young was shocked to find out that his grandfather is donating his entire estate to aid the formation of the monarchy. As he was charged to teach Lee Seol the proper etiquette of being a princess, he finds himself drawing closer to her. Yet, his heart is torn to the fact that he is about to lose his inheritance to her once the country vote for the formation of the monarchy.

I really liked the cast for this drama as Song Seung Hun, who rose to fame in Autumn in my Heart years back, is really a hunk. Kim Tae Hee, who is already in her 30s but looked really fresh in the drama. The main cast is also well supported with the likes of Park Ye Jin, who is Oh Yun Ju, the executive director of the monarchy foundation but opposed Lee Seol from being the princess; and Ryu Soo Young, who is Nam Jung Woo, a university professor specializing in Korean history who loves Yun Ju and is keen for monarchy to be formed.

Even though the cast is strong, I do feel that the script is a bit weak, especially at the end of the drama. 16 episodes for this drama is just about right, but I do feel that the ending is a bit rushed, with the last episode trying wrap the relationships between the cast members. The role of Park Hae Young's father, which is pivotal in the drama, isn't well developed at all in the drama and I thought it was disappointing aspect. But with romance as the main theme of the drama, Kim Tae Hee and Song Seung Hun doesn't disappoint. The chemistry between them is natural and Kim Tae Hee is extremely lovable in the drama. After all, this is what we should expect between 2 established artists.

Finally I've finished watching Secret Garden... I absolutely love it!!! But this song from the drama really takes the cake. It's the same as my BGM currently, but at least there's the translated english lyrics in this fanmade MV.





Note that the rhythm is the same, but the lyrics is totally different.

Having been swept away recently by the k-pop wave, I've also started to take note of Korean dramas now. I got to admit that prior to this, the only drama I've completed are Goong, Full House(with my friend scrolling throughout the whole drama) and Autumn in my Heart (DO NOT ask me why I like this tearjerker show). I've also recently completed Personal Taste and My Girlfriend is a Gumiho, but that was when I am already in this K-pop wave. Now, while trying to finish the jap dramas that I have yet to watch, I'm instantly hooked on Secret Garden, which is still airing in Korea at the moment.

Secret Garden tells the story of Kim Joo Won (Hyun Bin), a seemingly perfect man yet with certain arrogance and childishness in him, and Gil Ra Im (Ha Ji Won), a stuntwoman whose beauty and body are the object of envy of top actresses. One day they went deep into the mountains and entered a strange house. A strange grandmother offered them chocolate to eat. The next day they found themselves changing bodies.

What attracted me to this drama is not the cast initially. I didn't even know that Ha Ji Won is the female lead in Sex is Zero. As for Hyun Bin, let's just say I'm still new to the Korean wave. So instead of the actors, it was the initial reviews that got me attracted to the show.

Although it is a bit early that I reviewed the drama since I have only watched like 5 to 6 episodes, I'm actually enjoying each episode and the standard of entertainment is consistent through the drama so far. The progression of the plot is not as slow as what korean dramas are usually like and there's always something new in each episode. Do catch it if you can.

Oh, the soundtrack is pretty good too :)

Before I forget, I wish everyone a very Merry Xmas!!~

Okay I think somebody may try to whack me for this but I thought this commercial, although as irritating as hell, is darn addictive too.

Nyang~ nyang~ nyang~ nyang~ nyang~ nyang~

I've just realised that for the whole month of November, I have only blogged about Cheer Chen's concert and nothing else! No reviews for any movies, dramas etc. Well, it's not exactly nothing is going on but rather whether is there any value in blogging some stuff I've experiencing during this period. Anyway, enough said for the past month and for the start of the new month it's time for another movie review!

Hello Stranger or Kuan Meun Ho in Thai, starts its run in Singapore starting from today 2 December, in selected cinemas. The show stars Chantavit Dhanasevi as the male lead and Nuengtida Sopon as the female lead. If you have watched the Thai movie "Hormones" before, Chantavit Dhanasevi should not be foreign to you as he stars in that movie as well. As for Nuengtida Sopon, she is new to me so I do not have any data regarding her except knowing her pet name is Nuna. But one thing's for sure, she is really pretty and does not look Thai. I even commented that Nuengtida in the movie looked really like Hyomin of Korean Pop Group T-ara as below:


Although the male and female's lead names are not disclosed throughout the movie, they did use pesudo names. For the male lead, he was given the "Darng" or puppy in Thai while the female lead introduced herself as "May". The story starts with the two leads going to South Korea for very different reasons. Darng is sarcastic guy with a foul mouth while May is a fanatic for Korean dramas. Darng joined a tour group to get away the blues from the breakup with his longtime girlfriend. May is travelling to Korea to attend her Korean friend's wedding but had to do so behind her over zealous boyfriend. Upon reaching Korea, Darng got drunk and ended up sleeping on the sidewalk of a backpacker lodge where May was staying. Although May tried to guide Darng back to his hotel the next morning, the tour group left the hotel without Darng. Darng decided to tag along May as his command of Korean is poor and is traveling alone for the first time in a foreign country.

Since the director is the same as Bangkok Traffic Love Story, you should be expected to have the same kind of witty dialogue that is found in this movie as well. Also, due to the popularity of Bangkok Traffic Love Story in Singapore, this movie reached our shores pretty fast as the movie was only aired in Thailand in August. As compared to the former which took almost a year to reach our shores, this movie is really recent.

Before typing this article, I have read though some other articles on the review of this movie. I'd say that for the purpose of this movie which is a rom-com, it has served its purpose well. Some articles mentioned about the impossible relationship between the two main leads, I'd say chill down and just accept everything as it is. Yes, the storyline may be a bit out of reality but I'd say the movie won't be the way it is with the sense of reality.

Also while searching the internet for more info, I found that the movie poster has 3 different variations as shown below:


From the posters, it's obvious that this will be a fun movie to watch hence I somewhat couldn't understand all the seriousness with the other articles. Most importantly is that I enjoyed laughing at the lame jokes in the movie and I came out of the cinema as a happier person. Oh, the scenery for some of Korea's famous tourist spots helps the cinematography as well with shots at Coffee Prince Cafe, Namiseom Island where Winter Sonata was shot, Nansum Tower as well as other scenic locations.

Hmm, don't know what I'm talking? Probably the pictures below will tell more.


Still not convinced about the movie? I think the movie trailer will wet your appetite!

昨天剛出席了綺貞老師的演唱會.只有一個字可以形容: 讚!!!!!!

不用多說,就讓照片代替我的字.

注意哦~ 由於照片居多,下載速度會有點緩慢~~
請耐性等待~~

credits: sunshine@cloudie